Skip to content
  • Home
  • Whisky Top 10
  • Tasting Notes
  • About Thijs
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Whisky Top 10
  • Tasting Notes
  • About Thijs
  • Contact
logo
glenlivet 12 years old 1980s

The Glenlivet 12 Years Old (1980s)

28 January 2019 1 comment Article Glenlivet, The, Scotland, Speyside, Tasting Notes

Glenlivet is the second highest selling Scotch single malt brand in the world, even topping the list a few years ago, only to quickly be overtaken by Glenfiddich again. Their whisky is generally fine for every occassion really, which is also kind of an issue. It doesn’t really stand out like some other, lesser known distilleries do. But that’s exactly the goal. Glenlivet is made for mass appeal, and the sales numbers don’t lie. It appeals to a lot of folk.

Let’s pivot to a review of a 12-year-old Glenlivet. However, this is not your average, run of the mill Glenlivet 12. Well, actually, at one point it was, but now it isn’t. That’s what time does. This is an older version, that used to be imported to Italy in the 1980s. Someone offered me a sample. I gladly accepted. And here we are.

The Glenlivet 12 Years Old (43%, OB, 1980s)

Nose: Slightly shy and not very expressive, this certainly won’t offend anyone. Pretty straightforward malt whisky, with hints of honey, vanilla and bitter oranges, accompanied by a thin floral veneer.
Taste: Creamy with soft notes of orchard fruits (quite tart actually), some crème brûlée and a handful of walnuts. Slightly thin and slightly metallic, with a hint of cappuccino.
Finish: Subtle spices. Short.

Score: 77

The palate offers more than the nose, which I find a bit dull. I really should’ve had a recent Glenlivet 12 on hand to compare this with.

Photo: Whiskybase

Thijs Klaverstijn Kingairloch 3
Thijs Klaverstijn

Thijs is a spirits writer and accredited liquorist from The Netherlands. He runs the blog Words of Whisky and contributes to a number of Dutch and international publications.

Tags: 12yo, 1980's, glenlivet, speyside

1 comment

  • Jeannette Wentzel 29 January 2019 at 10:51 - Reply

    That is like drinking a piece of history. The world was a totally different place when this was made. How cool!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Tumblr

Most popular posts

  • Glendronach cask (flickr ti yab) GlenDronach Is A Lot Older Than The Label Says
  • glenburgie 2008 12yo hart brothers Glenburgie 2008 12 Years (Hart Brothers)
  • starward solera Starward Solera (2020)
  • john walker sons celebratory blend John Walker & Sons Celebratory Blend (2020)
  • glenlivet 12yo illicit still Glenlivet 12 Years Illicit Still (2020)

Recent blog posts

  • Upcoming: Blind Tasting Competition
  • Sexism & Misogyny in our Whisky Community
  • Monologue: Waterford’s Mark Reynier on Biodynamics & Terroir
  • Why The Whiskybase Gathering Should Be On Your Bucket List
  • Visiting Ballindalloch Distillery: Tradition & Patience in Speyside

Copyright Words of Whisky 2021